Abstract: Apparatus for drawing taut a cover sheet over a box opening such as a truck box or a walled building of rectangular plan form provides stop members mounted on a longer sidewall presenting stop surfaces spaced below a longitudinal edge, the surfaces forming a socket for captively seating a tubular or bar shaped roller to which the sheet is tangentially attached. The sheet is fully unwound from the roller in covering the opening, and an overhanging sheet portion is tensioned by a fractional turn of the roller additionally in the unwinding direction, causing the roller to press upwardly against a stop surface engaging the top of the roller and to press inwarldy against a stop surface, with the overhanging portion disposed as a rain-shedding eaves maintaining a seal at the longitudinal edge and terminating under a clamp tangent to the roller.

Abstract: A tool storage device is disclosed including a cabinet having a plurality of vertically arranged planar side walls each containing a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a portion of a support hook. The cabinet is characterized by an internal assembly for locking the hook portions within the apertures to provide stable support for hand tools and the like. The locking assembly includes a plurality of locking plates arranged parallel to and spaced from the cabinet side walls, respectively, and a rotatable cam for displacing the locking plates relative to the side walls between locked positions in which the locking plates press the hook portions against the inner surfaces of the associated side walls, respectively, and unlocked positions in which the locking plates release the hook portions, respectively.

Abstract: An injection head introduces H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 into one end of an elongate combustion chamber. At the same time, water is injected into the chamber through peripheral ducts to form a water curtain, or through inlets in the injection head, or through apertures facing away from the injection head in water-cooled tubing extending in a plane perpendicular to the chamber axis.

Abstract: Improved measuring apparatus of the vibratory string type including a molded synthetic plastic body member containing a horizontal through passage for receiving the permanent magnet excitation and sensing system, and a pair of integral parallel horizontal wing-like projections that extend from the body member in supporting relation on opposite sides of the exciting magnet system. The body member also contains a through bore arranged in spaced relation directly beneath the through passage, a rear recess being provided in the rear face of the body member for receiving clamping means having a bearing portion that extends through the through bore for connection with the lower end of the vertically arranged measuring string. Additional apertures are formed in the body member for connecting the same to a fixed support or console.

Abstract: An improved rudder steering apparatus for ships is disclosed including a rudder-jam-responsive device for automatically disconnecting the tiller from the rudder shaft upon the occurrence of jamming or wedging of the rudder. A pair of cam track levers pivotally connected with a plate mounted on the rudder shaft are normally biased by an hydraulic piston-cylinder motor into engagement with a follower that is connected with the tiller. The motor is automatically operable by an overload-responsive device (such as a pressure-relief safety valve or an accumulator tank) to disconnect the levers from the follower device when the rudder is in a wedged or jammed condition.

Abstract: Improved spin-bonding apparatus is disclosed for connecting a synthetic plastic end closure member to a composite container body wall, including an axially displaceable spinner member that is operable to an axially extended position in which it is rotated relative to the stationary mandrel by the rotatably driven spindle when the mandrel and spindle are in an initial axially spaced condition. The spinner member continuously supports the inner periphery of the sealing fin as the mandrel and spindle are displaced axially together toward their adjacent spin-bonding condition, whereby the sealing fin is protectively supported prior to positive spin bonding thereof to the synthetic plastic inner liner of the container body wall. The stationary mandrel is provided at its free end with a unitary sizing portion having a closely toleranced cylindrical surface for causing the free extremity of the container body wall to have a circular configuration.

Abstract: A liquid depth measuring device for measuring the depth of a liquid in a tank or other receptacle is disclosed. The device includes a vertically arranged outer housing member having a tubular central body portion, a tapered valve seat at the lower end of the body portion, and an annular sliding bearing member at the upper end of the body portion. The device further includes a tubular inner housing member mounted for longitudinal sliding movement through the bearing and extending in concentrically spaced relation within the outer housing member to form an annular space therebetween. A tapered valve member adapted for sealing engagement with the valve seat is carried at the lower end of the inner housing member, and a graduated measuring tape is arranged longitudinally within the inner housing member.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus is disclosed in which the load carrier (3) is arranged immediately adjacent the console (1), whereby the length of the transmission arm (3b) between the load carrier and the measuring component is reduced to a minimum. The parallel guidance system for the vertically movable components is provided by upper and lower resilient guide members (11, 11') having parallel spaced first (11a) and second (11bb) guide arms connected at one end with the console and load carrier members, respectively, and freely suspended means (11c) connecting together the other ends of the arms, thereby to define a folded guide arrangement in which the temperature-dependent changes in lengths of the arms balance each other, whereby temperature-independent guidance is produced. Furthermore, by the use of a transmission member 3b of relatively short length, directional imbalances in the application of the weighing force upon the measurement system are avoided.

Abstract: A stationary matrix panel has magnetic display elements arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, each element having two stable states of contrasting appearance. Electromagnetic actuator heads are mechanically coupled together by resilient couplings so as to move in unison and actuate selected display elements. The couplings are arranged to allow limited movement in a direction normal to that of the travel of the actuator heads across the matrix panel, thereby allowing for slight misalignment in the panel. Each actuator head contains a number of individual electromagnets and is responsive to a respective indexing track which provides signals indicative of the actual position of the actuation of the electromagnets in the head. The matrix panel has a plurality of guide rails arranged to provide accurate vertical registration of the heads, each guide rail being slotted to provide the indexing.

Abstract: Drift in the zero or datum reference point of a circuit (such as that forming part of a measuring device) is corrected by sensing the rate of change of the signal provided by the circuit and distinguishing between a rate of change characteristic of that due to a valid signal indicative of a measurement and a rate of change characteristic of that due to drift in the circuit.In one embodiment, a window comparator 18 senses the rate of change of the signal output from circuit 10 by periodically sampling in sample/ hold 16 and then comparing with the current value of the signal. A signal circulating path 20, 21, 22 holds a drift compensating value which is updated when comparator 18 senses a rate of change below a threshold value which is indicative of drift in circuit 10. The drift compensating value is added to the signal from circuit 10 in summing amplifier 15 thereby correcting the signal for drift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inoculating a liquid latent heat storage substance of the type convertible to the solid state on cooling is disclosed. A portion of the substance is caused to crystallize on a cooled active surface, immersed in the substance and preferably vertically arranged, whereupon the active surface is heated to fuse-off the formed crystals to release them into the liquid portion of the storage substance to thus form inoculation seeds on which further crystallization of the storage substance takes place on withdrawal of heat from same. In one described embodiment, a pair of active surfaces is provided by using a Peltier element operating with a DC source having selectively reversible polarity whereby one surface is cooled down while the other is heated and vice versa, depending on the instant polarity of the DC source.

Abstract: A flexure or bending coupling member (10) is disclosed for precision scales and the like, including a pair of clamping end portions (12) joined with a central bar portion (18) via a pair of flexure portions (15), characterized in that the bar portion is arranged normal to the plane containing the end portions and the bending axes of the flexure portions. The central bar portion is connected with the flexure portions (15) via twisted portions (20) rotated 90.degree. about the longitudinal axis of the flexure coupling member, thereby affording improved resilience in the lateral direction and greater insensitivity regarding dimensional inaccuracies at the clamping locations and/or with respect to temperature variations.

Abstract: A flow meter for measuring the velocity of fluid flow in a conduit is disclosed, characterized in that an electromagnetic sensor probe is mounted within an opening contained in the conduit for generating electrical signals as a function of the velocity of fluid flow. The probe has a debris shedding head portion which protrudes into the interior of the conduit and includes an electromagnet for generating an electromagnetic field in the fluid, the axis of the field extending normal to the direction of fluid flow. The probe further includes a plurality of electrodes arranged beyond the poles of the electromagnet and adjacent the fluid for producing the electrical signals in response to the flow of fluid through the electromagnetic field. Signal processing apparatus is connected with the sensor probe for converting the electrical signals into a flow velocity output signal.

Abstract: Printing apparatus for use with electrosensitive paper includes a scanning means in the form of an endless belt 11 suspended between pulleys 13, 14 and carrying writing styli 17. The styli are scanned across the paper 15 as the belt rotates and writing signals are applied from a control circuit 24 via a conductor strip 19 to the stylus which is in contact with the paper. Stylus guiding surfaces 20, 21 are provided to keep the stylus running along a straight edge, and position signals are generated by a transducer 27, such as an optical encoder, so as to synchronize the writing signals.

Abstract: A self-adhesive temperature indicator comprises a piece of transparent or translucent foil (10), one side being provided, over at least a region thereof, with a layer (12) of material which changes color at a predetermined temperature, over at least another region thereof with a printed layer (14), for example of a material having a visual characteristic (e.g. its own color) denoting the predetermined temperature, and over at least another region (preferably a peripheral margin) with a coating (18) of adhesive.

Abstract: A combined bridge and tailpiece assembly for a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar is disclosed, characterized by a tailpiece member which is manually rotated to produce a vibrato effect. The assembly includes a tailpiece block which is secured to the body portion of the instrument and an elongate tailpiece member rotatably connected at its ends with the tailpiece block for rotation in one direction about an axis parallel with and eccentrically horizontally and vertically offset from the longitudinal axis of the tailpiece member to provide camming action. Adjustable string attachment devices are connected with the tailpiece member for attachment to the ends of the instrument strings which, when tensioned, normally bias the tailpiece member in one direction of rotation. A plurality of adjustable saddle rollers are connected with the tailpiece block and act as a bridge to guide the instrument strings to the string attachment devices.

Abstract: A weighing system of the electromagnetic load compensation type is disclosed including a counter for counting the weight-responsive pulses which are produced during the periods that the compensating current is supplied to the movable coil to return the movable scale member toward its initial no-load position, characterized by the provision of a temperature-responsive device for supplying to the counter a train of temperature-correction pulses that are used to modify the count of the weight-responsive pulses, whereby a more accurate indication of the applied load is obtained. Thus, an analog signal from the temperature sensor is compared with a sawtooth signal to produce a digitalized temperature-responsive signal which modifies the digital weight signal supplied to the microprocessor circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous filtration of a fluid, for example water containing solids, comprising a plurality of filter cells partially filled with mobile filtering material, each cell having an inlet and an outlet, means being provided for continuously supplying fluid to the inlets, a drain element for filtered solids being connectible to a limited number of cell inlets without interrupting the fluid supply to the other cell inlets, the drain element lowering the fluid supply pressure prevailing at the limited number of cell inlets to a value lower than the filtrate pressure prevailing at the cell outlets so that these cells are backwashed with filtrate such that the mobile filtering material only partially filling the cells is swirled in the turbulent filtrate flow within the cells and is thoroughly cleaned from adhering solids.

Abstract: A hollow explosive body is disclosed including a generally cylindrical outer jacket having a main explosive arranged therein. The hollow explosive body is characterized by a lining which at least partially closes and extends within the jacket to define a chamber. An auxiliary explosive charge is arranged within the chamber. Detonation of the auxiliary explosive charge expands the liner, the main explosive, and the jacket, thereby resulting in a hollow explosive body having a greater caliber.